Pakistan has a history of: “RARE & RANDOM” elections, with disastrous after-affects. All of them had repulsive repercussions. Post elections’ periods, without exceptions, were not good for our national integrity.

The first constituent assembly was elected – before independence! Its honorable members did not choose to draft the constitution. Quaid e Azam was killed by neglect – at best – and Premier Liaqat Ali Khan was killed by design – at worst! The lone and lonely founding father had declared the guide lines for Pakistan’s polity, on the 11th day of August 1947 – with due diligence. A British recruited and trained Muslim bureaucrat withheld the text from circulation – for the reasons best known to him! A bunch of others of his class, later promoted Urdu to be the sole National language. This language was not spoken in any of the provinces of Pakistan, though. Quaid himself had very limited perception of the hybrid language. The imposed was totally alien to the majority province of Pakistan. East Pakistanis exhibited a very violent reaction. They did, however, petition for a secondary status for Bangla. But were denied.

A retinue of CARPET BAGGERS had usurped the right-to-rule, away from the so-called elected representatives. The “representatives” kept on stretching their tenure by delaying finalization of the basic constitution. Because that would warrant the onset of fresh elections. Over a thousand days after, the inception of the dominion status, a sort of supplementary elections was held to accommodate the immigrants from India. That set a very bad precedent of Jhurloo mal-practices

The bureaucratic carpet baggers did have all the machinations. But they did not have muscle to enforce their vile designs. They co-opted men-behind-the-muzzle. They in response, were willing, able and eager to oblige! In the matters of state-craft, the pecking order had been callous and bloody. A plane load of senior army officers had to crash on the leewind side of the Salt Range to preclude them. This is how the proverbial camel’s head was let in the bureaucratic tent. Soon, thereafter, the aging group of the bureaucracy expired their validity. The gun replaced the pen-craftmen. Some pliable ones were accommodated – for the services rendered beyond the limit of duty – by the Nouveau Force Mejeure.

The fore-closure took 11 years and 7 weeks. The new ruler introduced a system of command structure with spine-less civil servants, malleable other services and ductile political pawns! All else was either perishable or disposable. Things like Constitution and civil society were part of the latter. There has to be an explanation. The plausible one is that Pakistan never had a political party – that fits the bill…

General Agha Yahya Khan, who snatched, the reigns of power from his predecessor, was seldom sober. In a state of hang over, he factored Nazzeria-e Pakistan to generate diversion. Sher Ali, one of his lieutenants, with Napoleonic pretences, mentioned it in the dispatches. Yahya Khan held the last and lost so-called, fair parliamentary elections in Pakistan.

We all know what happened thereafter!

Mr Zulifikar Ali Bhutto assumed charge of the “left over” from Yahya and the elected members of the lessor half of the country, as Chief Martial Law Administrator due to lack of any other instrument.

He framed the 1973 constitution, in the House, by common consensus. He, then fatefully, held the elections in 1977 spring, by enhancing the schedule.

And we all know what happened thereafter!

General Zia ul Haq took over on the historic night of 4rth of July’ 77. He did promise to hold elections – in 90 days. By dint of native collaborators and convenient global factors, he extended that 90 days schedule to about 2, 900 + days. Zia, hower, held “elections” in 1985. It was a circus of sorts. The clowns went to polls. Some even cast their votes. The designated persons were elected as well. An assembly mushroomed. A nominated person was propped up as the Prime Minister. However there was a “Missing Link”! A political party had to be synthesized to borrow credence – after the election! There was none before!!

Zia and his regime went out of circulation under choreographed circumstances. Who knows? By friends or foes? After 1988 a revolving door was installed for exit and entry to the power house/s. Elections were held four times in 9 years. Political heirs and successors of Mr Zulifikar Ali Bhutto and Gen. Zia ul Haq won twice each. And were ousted as many times.

Political rolling stones gathered no mass. They however compiled long charge sheets of corruption and “missed-management” – against each other. Cases were instituted against principal adversaries, which are valid to-date. Due to lack of political processes, party cadres, collective wisdom – necessary for critical decisions, politics did not take proper routes or healthy roots.

And we all know what happened thereafter!

Rolling stones learnt no lessons in the process. Instead, they demolished quite a few existing norms. Horse trading had a bull rally. The last pillar of the bureaucracy had to abandon the Presidency. A chief justice appointed by one, was banished from the bench, by the other. A president elected by his party, dismissed his own party’s premier. Zia ul Haq introduced constitutional clause, infamous as: 58II B, had to be abolished – for short.

A Chief of Army Staff had to resign – three months prior to his retirement! He had talked about the National Security Council, as a way out of the inevitable. A new COAS was appointed, while the incumbent was airborne.

And we all know, what happened, thereafter!

Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was assassinated on the fateless day of the 27th of December 2007. Irrespective of political affiliations, the Pakistanis mourned her untimely and sad demise. We all sincerely pray for the safety and security of ALL our political leaders. The elections are now scheduled to be held on the

18th Feb. 2008. The whole world including Pakistanis have been assured, the elections would be Free, Fair and Transparent. Even if they are held as per book, how would the loosers be convinced about that rationale?

And we all know, what happens, thereafter!

Can we, for the sake of Pakistan, prevent that inevitable? The bench mark is 1977 election! Would all our political leadership, get together now to avert that mayhem, and strive for National Reconciliation? Let us hope and pray, they do. Otherwise………….

We all know, what happens, thereafter.